’Jackets race to State in track and field

by by Michelle Dillon michelle@thecherokee.com
Courtesy photo
Alto Yellowjacket Fred Thacker, center, wins the gold in State track and field events. Courtesy photo
Alto Yellowjacket Fred Thacker, center, wins the gold in State track and field events.

Alto athletes qualified for Class 2A State competition in track and field, participating in contests held Friday and Saturday, May 10-11.

As a team, the Yellowjackets earned 38 points and finished fourth in the state behind Milano (62), Holland (42) and Shiner (40).

Fred Thacker earned gold in two events, discus (179-02) and shot put (56-05.5).

The team of Marvin Roberts, Jay Pope, Marlon Warren and Clayton Terry seized silver in the 100-meter relay with a time of 42.79, just 0.91 seconds behind first (41.88). The team also placed eighth in the 200-meter relay. Isaiah Gaddis placed fifth in the 300-meter hurdles.

The Lady ’Jackets tied for 41st overall out of 51 schools that placed at the meet.

BriAnna Green took fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.57). Chesnee Upshaw placed ninth in the 300-meter hurdles (48.87).

In the pole vault, Abby Bernard placed ninth (9-06).

Rusk, Bullard compete in State meets

Athletes from both the Bullard and Rusk schools took part in Class 4A State track and field competition.

The Bullard and Rusk boys teams tied for 51st out of 56 schools who scored points in the State finals.

The Bullard girls placed 32nd out of 45 schools that placed in the competition.

Janaia Williams of Bullard took fourth in the 400-meter dash (57.86). Emily Berry (Bullard) placed sixth in the 3200-meter run (11:45.60).

In the boys’ 800-meter run, Harrison Meador (Bullard) placed sixth (2:01.39) and Ladadrian Polk (Rusk) finished eighth (2:05.66). Jermaine Lewis (Rusk) had two top 10 finishes, placing sixth in the discus (149-08) and seventh in the shot put (47-03.25).